April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Parkinson’s, which is characterized by a loss of certain nerve cells in the brain that regulate functions like motor control, affects about one million people in the U.S. and millions more globally. It is the second most common progressive neurological disorder and research shows prevalence in the U.S. is increasing.
Parkinson’s symptoms can be challenging to diagnose. And even once diagnosed and put on baseline Parkinson’s treatment, many people with Parkinson’s experience a return of their symptoms between doses, bringing a new meaning to “feeling off.”
For these people, these fluctuations between periods when symptoms are controlled – known as ON periods – and periods when symptoms return – known as OFF periods or OFF episodes, can be very … [Read more...]

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY AMONG ALL AMERICANS, BUT BLACK MEN AND WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE THAN WHITE MEN AND WOMEN.THE GOOD NEWS IS EVEN SMALL CHANGES IN DAILY HABITS CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING A HEART DISEASE, INCLUDING THE MOST COMMON TYPE, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.
JOINING US NOW DURING HEART HEALTH MONTH IS INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST AND MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BLACK CARDIOLOGISTS DR. WAYNE BATCHELOR TO TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, AND TO SHARE SOME TIPS FOR LIVING A HEART HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
BIO: Dr. Wayne Batchelor received his B.A. and Doctorate of Medicine degrees summa cum laude at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in Canada. He then completed a Comprehensive … [Read more...]

MISINFORMATION CAN BE SERIOUS
INFECTIOUS DISEASES:
Can You Separate Fact from Fiction?
MISINFORMATION CAN BE SERIOUS
There’s been a lot of discussion around the mysterious polio-like illness occurring throughout the country, conflicting sentiment around vaccination, and the recent severity of flu epidemics – which killed about 80k people in the US last year alone.
Naturally, it can be confusing to understand which infections are preventable, which diseases are treatable, which you may at risk for contracting, and what to do when symptoms occur. After all, a germ is a germ is a germ, right? Germs are dirty, they make you sick, and that’s the end of that. Well, that’s not quite true.
While viruses and bacteria can both cause infections or illness, they are quite different. With … [Read more...]

Dr. Douglas L. Ambler, internal medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and medical director of quality for Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group, alongside Norman Moore, PhD., Director of Scientific Affairs of Infectious Disease with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics to talk about the importance of flu testing and how best to detect and treat the flu this upcoming season.
As another flu season rapidly approaches, the need for fast, accurate flu testing is more important than ever.
The flu, or influenza, is a highly contagious viral infection that attacks the respiratory system, and is sometimes mistaken for the common cold, making it difficult for people to receive the treatment they need. With rapid flu testing at the point of care, people can be diagnosed … [Read more...]